1921.] Report of the Librarian 281

REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN

'T^HE-- be

progress of the Library during the year hasbeen eventful in many particulars, and the total of

accessions has been slightly above normal. Expressedin figures which, although dry and statistical, mostaccurately measure the library's development thistotal is as follows:

Bound volumes 3497Pamphlets 4063Engravings, broadsides and maps 1431Unbound newspapers 1662

Carrying out the figures obtained from the count ofthe Library in 1917, the books now number 141,767,and the pamphlets 211,676.

The especial sources of growth during the yearhave been the accession of the Nathaniel Painelibrary, and the fortunate acquisition of several earlynewspaper files. It has been due to many members,however, such as Messrs. Charles H. Taylor, CharlesG. Washburn, Arthur P. Rugg, and Henry W. Cunning-ham, that we have been able to keep up with much ofthe current historical output. To Mr. Taylor, theSociety is much indebted for adding most generouslyto our collections, and particularly for the gifts ofvolumes relating to American printing and journalism.

One of the richest private libraries which has everbeen given to the Society came from the bequest ofNathaniel Paine. Mr. Paine died in January, 1917,and according to his will his library was to go to theSociety after the death of Mrs. Paine, who howevercould make such use of it as she chose, even to the

282 American Antiquarian Society [Oct.,

disposal of books. Mrs. Paine, interested equally inthe Antiquarian Society and desirous of keeping thelibrary intact as a memorial to her husband, took veryfew books from it, and then only after making surethat they were duplicate volumes. Upon her death,in September, 1920, the books were sent over to theSociety, and the process pf arranging and comparingthem with our own copies began. The extra-illus-trated volumes, certain special collections in which Mr.Paine was much interested, such as books on thedrama and on sports and games, and most of thestandard books of Worcester history, kept as secondcopies, were placed in his own book-cases in what hasbeen termed the Nathaniel Paine Room. The generalhistorical literature was fayed in with our owncollection, each book being properly marked as fromhis bequest.

As a result, the Society received from the Painelibrary 1218 books, 220 pamphlets, 670 bookplates,and 517 photographs and views. The most valuablefeature of the collectionthe long series of volumesextra-illustrated with thousands of prints, documentsand viewshas been referred to in the Council Re-port. Of the books which were added to our generalcollection, the most important were the volumes ofbiography, the children's books, the bookplate litera-ture, bibliography, books on folk-lore, and the Wash-ington eulogies. Mr. Paine was not a collector ofbooks of great raritythat is, books which broughthigh prices in the sales-roomyet he did acquire manytitles of extreme scarcity. Perhaps the rarest of hisbooks was "The Charter of the City of Saint John,"printed at New Brunswick by Lewis & Ryan. Al-though without date, this volume was printed in1785, and seems to be in none of the leading collections.Th rarest of his prints was a fine copy of PaulRevere's "Boston Massacre," especially welcome tous as it was one of the very few Revere engravingswhich we lacked.

1921.] Report of the Librarian 283

The receipt from H. W. Caslon & Co., of London, oftheir splendidly printed and illustrated volume,"Two Centuries of Type founding" serves to remindthe Society that it possesses an unusual collection ofearly English type-specimen books. Books of thischaracter seem to have been especially subject todestruction, probably because the old editions werediscarded by their owners as soon as the new editionswere received. Furthermore they were considered astrade-catalogues, and when the antiquarian and collec-tor sought them a century later, they had nearly alldisappeared. When William Blades wrote his workon "Some Early Type Specimen Books," in 1875, theearliest English type specimen in book form which hewas able to trace was that issued in 1764 by the firm ofWilliam Caslon and Son. But in the library of IsaiahThomas of Worcester was an earlier Caslon specimen,dated 1763, and it is this volume which today forms thecorner-stone of the Society's collection. Thomas notonly preserved all of the specimen-books which cameto him from the printers, but also issued one of his ownin 1785, with the title "A Specimen of IsaiahThomas's Printing Types. " Being as large and com-plete an assortment as is to be met with in any onePrinting-office in America. Chiefly manufactured bythat great artist, William Caslon, Esq. of London."

Although the collection of English and Americanspecimen books has been known to a few students ofearly printing, and aroused considerable interest whenthe Boston Society of Printers visited the Library in1910, a list of the titles has never been printed in theProceedings. Therefore the list is herewith given,arranged chronologically, including titles as far as 1860 :

A Specimen by John Baskerville of Birmingham. Broadside (c. 1762)-A Specimen of Printing Types, by William Caslon, and Son, Letter

Founders, in London. London: Printed by Dryden Leach, 1763,A Specimen of Printing Types, by William Caslon, Letter Founder,

London. Printed by John Towers, 1766,Epreuve des Caractres, qui se fondent chez les frres Ploos van Amstel,

Amsterdam (c. 1766).

284 American Antiquarian Society [Oct.,

Proef van Letteren, welke gegooten worden in de Nieuwe HaerlemscheLetter gietery van J. Ensched. 1768. (Containing a portrait ofthe punch cutter and a folding-plate view of the typefoundry.)

A Specimen of Printing Types, by Tho. Cottrell, Letter Founder, InNevil's-Court, Fetter-Lane, London. (1774).

A Specimen of Printing Types, by William Caslon, Letter-Foimderto his Majesty. London: Printed by Galabin and Baker, 1785.

A Specimen of Large Letters, by William Caslon, London, 1785. Two broadsides.

A Specimen of Isaiah Thomas's Printing Types. Being as large andcomplete an assortment as is to be met with in any one Printing-OflBce in America. Chiefly manufactured by that great artist,William Caslon, Esq; of London. Printed at Worcester, Mass-achusetts, by Isaiah Thomas, 1785.

A Specimen of Printing Types, made by Joseph Fry and Sons. Letter-Foimders, and Marking-Instrument Makers, by the King's RoyalLetters Patent. London: Printed in the year 1785.

A Specimen of Printing Types, by Joseph Fry and Sons, Letter-Founders to the Prince of Wales. London: Printed in the year1786.

A Specimen of Printing Types, by Tho. Cottrell, Letter Founder, InNevil's-Court, Fetter-Lane, London.. ("1786" in I. Thomas'shand).

.. A Specimen of Printing Tjrpes by John Baine & Grandson in Co.Letter-Founders, Edinburgh 1787.

A Specimen of Printing Types cast in the Letter Foundry of AlexanderWilson and Sons. Glasgow, 1789.

Specimen of Brass Card Borders, and other ornaments, on an entire newprinciple, by C. & A. Paas, Engravers to Their Majesties. London.

. Printed by T. Bensley, 1793.Specimen of Metal Cast Ornaments, curiously adjusted to paper, by

Edmund Fry and Co. Letter-Founders to the Prince of Wales,Type-Street, London: Printed by T. Rickaby, 1793.

Fry's Metal Omarnents, Continued. Broadside. (A few of the sameornaments as in the 1793 edition.)

A Specimen of Printing Types, by Fry and Steele, Letter-Founders tothe Prince of Wales, Type-Street. London: Printed by T.Rickaby, 1794.

Specimen of Metal Cast Ornaments, curiously adjusted to paper, by Ed-mund Fry and Isaac Steele, Letter-Founders to the Prince ofWales, Type-Street. London: Printed by T. Rickaby, 1794.

A Specimen of Printing Types, by Wm. Caslon, Letter-Founder to theKing. London : Printed by C. Whittingham, 1796.

Pantographia; containing accurate copies of all the known alphabetsin the world, together with an English explanation of the peculiarforce or power of each letter: To which are added, specimens of all

1921.] Report of the Librarian 285

well-authenticated Oral Languages; forming a comprehensivedigest of Phonology. By Edmund Fry, Letter-Founder, Type-Street. Printed by Copper and Wilson, 1799.

A Specimen of Printing Types, by Fry, Steele and Co. Letter-Foundersto the Prince of Wales, Type-Street, London: Printed in the year1800.

A Specimen of the Improved Types of G. F. Harris, Printer. (Suc-cessor to Mr. John M'Creery.) Houghton-Street, Liverpool.(1807).

Proben der Schrift-Sorten, welche in der Buchdruckerey von FriedrichHermann Nestler wohnhaft in Hamburg auf den grossen BleichenNo. 323 befindlich sind. Hamburg, 1807.

Specimen of Printing Type, from the Letter Foundry of James Ronald-son, successor to Binny & Ronaldson. Cedar between Ninth andTenth Streets, Philadelphia, 1816.

A Specimen of Printing Types, from the foundry of E. White, New-York. J. Seymour, Printer, No. 49, John Street, New-York, 1817.

A Specimen of Printing Types, cast at the Letter-Foundry of D. & G.Bruce, in Chamber, near Chatham Street, New-York, 1818.

List of prices at the Boston Type and Stereotype Foundry. (1829)Specimen of Printing Types, and Ornaments, from the Letter-Foundry

of J. Howe, & Co. Comer of Crown & Callowhill Street, Philadel-phia, 1830.

Specimen of Printing Types and Ornaments, by Robb & Ecklin, LetterFounders, Corner of Crown & Callowhill Streets, Philadelphia, 1836.

Specimen of Modem Printing Types, oast at the Letter Foundry of theBoston Type and Stereotype Company, No. 39 Congress Street.John G. Rogers, Agent, Boston. Dutton and Wentworth, Printers.1837.

Specimens of Printing Tjrpes and Orname